The University of Jos (UniJos) Students’ Union Government (SUG) elections for the 2024/2025 academic session, held on November 13, 2024, was cancelled on November 14, 2024, due to technical difficulties. A report on the cancellation cited an issue with the university’s ICT directorate, specifically the inaccessibility of a digital key required to access some of the collated votes. According to the director of ICT, the digital pin necessary for this access was not available, leading to the postponement of the election results.
Following the declaration of the election as cancelled, the university announced that a new election date would be set within 48 hours. However, no further updates have been provided, leaving both students and aspirants in uncertainty about the next steps.
The election also faced criticism for being rushed, especially since first-year students (100 level) had not yet been admitted at the time of the election. Traditionally, first-year and Direct Entry (DE) students participate in the SUG elections, but their exclusion this time raises concerns about the fairness of the process.
UniJos Echo calls for the immediate resolution of the technical challenges surrounding the election, particularly with the digital keys. If these issues persist, the ICT directorate should consider using Microsoft Forms without digital keys as an alternative. Microsoft Forms, if properly configured, can display voting data in real time, allowing for a transparent process where all agents and students can monitor the results. Voters could log in using their matriculation numbers, and any duplicate matriculation numbers would trigger automatic cancellation of both votes, thereby discouraging fraud and ensuring accountability.
Additionally, the requirement that students present proof of school fee payment in order to vote should be reconsidered. While it is important to ensure that only eligible students vote, this criterion risks disenfranchising students who may not have settled their fees yet, despite the fact that all students would pay eventually. The use of the digital key system to enforce this policy seems to be a barrier that, if not addressed, could lead to a similar cancellation in future attempts.
E-voting is an evolving practice in Nigerian universities, and while challenges are inevitable, these obstacles must be overcome to ensure a smooth and credible election process. The University of Jos’ ICT must address these technical difficulties promptly to maintain the integrity of its elections and uphold the progress the institution has made in embracing digital solutions.
As UniJos moves forward with the election process, it is essential that all stakeholders—students, staff, and aspirants—remain committed to transparency, fairness, and inclusivity, so that future elections can proceed without incident, contributing positively to the development of the university and its student body.
